RU2752408C1 - Method for initiating multi-channel laser initiation system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of physics of explosion, methods and devices of non-contact detonation of industrial explosives and can be used in devices to ensure safety, control and initiation of explosive devices and pyrotechnic devices with an optical signal. The method of initiating a multichannel laser initiation system consists in monitoring the optical path of the system with a closed optical switch by forming and supplying first a control pulse and then an initiating pulse. After switching the optical switch to the open state, the optical path is monitored by generating and supplying a control pulse to the path of the initiating device. After initiation of the initiating device, its operation is checked with a control pulse. In this case, the control and initiating pulses are formed with the same amplitude and different duration for each laser emitter. One or simultaneously two control / initiation pulses are applied to one or two initiating devices, respectively, through a feed-through optical connector. The open / closed state of the optical switch is provided by moving the light filter of the optical switch to the open / closed state.EFFECT: technical result consists in increasing the safety of the laser initiation system by ensuring control of the state of the optical path in each channel of the system.1 cl, 1 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the field of physics of explosion, methods and means of non-contact detonation of industrial explosives (HE) and can be used in means to ensure safety, control and initiation of explosive devices and pyrotechnic devices with an optical signal.

There is an invention called "Device for multiple optical initiation for active defense of vehicles" (French patent No. 2864217, IPC F42B 3/113, publ. 24.06.2005), which describes a method for initiating a multichannel laser initiation system, according to which generating and supplying a signal to electrical and optical switches, thereby making it possible to select the required number of laser radiation sources to which power will be supplied from the energy source for issuing an optical pulse to initiate the required laser ignitors.

The advantage of this initiation method is that it provides not only electrical, but also an optical break in the path of transmission of the initiation pulse from the power source to the laser igniter.

The disadvantage of this initiation method is the lack of the possibility of monitoring the state of the optical path using a control pulse from the laser emitter through the optical switch to each of the laser ignitors (LV) with subsequent registration using a laser radiation recorder.

There is a known method for initiating a multichannel laser initiation system, according to which an optical initiation pulse is generated and supplied from a laser emitter through a computer-controlled polarizing optical switch and an acoustic-optical deflector into the required initiation channel of the laser igniter ("Safety-aiming device without moving parts", US patent No. 5404820, IPC F42B 3/113, publ. 11.04.1995).

According to the invention, a polarizing optical switch is connected to the laser radiation source for blocking laser radiation in the first position of the switch and for transmitting laser radiation in the second position. From the optical switch, the laser radiation enters the computer-controlled unit of the acoustic-optical deflector, in which the angle of movement of the laser radiation is adjusted depending on the output signal of the computer-controlled control unit. As a result, laser radiation is directed into one or more fiber optic channels to activate the laser igniter associated with this channel.

The advantage of this method is the possibility of blocking the laser pulse of initiation at the first position of the switch and for passing the pulse of initiation at the second position. The disadvantage of this initiation method is the absence of a control optical pulse, and as a consequence, the lack of the possibility of monitoring the state of the optical path from the laser emitter through the optical switch to each of the laser ignitors.

Known multichannel laser initiation system called "Detonating system" (US patent No. 5413045, IPC F42B 3/00, 3/113, publ. 09.05.1995), which describes a method for initiating a laser igniter, through which a control and initiating optical pulses from different laser emitters through an optical splitter into a fiber-optic cable to a laser igniter with registration of a control pulse by a laser radiation recorder.

The laser igniter is initiated by means of laser radiation of a certain frequency and power. Optical radiation from a laser emitter travels along a fiber optic cable through an optical splitter, which only passes radiation of a certain frequency and reflects all others. The control laser emitter serves to check the operability of the laser initiation system and sends a control optical pulse through the fiber-optic cable in the form of radiation of a different frequency and power compared to the initiation pulse. The control pulse is reflected from the optical splitter and returned back through the fiber-optic cable and is allocated (recorded) by the laser radiation recorder.

This method allows you to control the state of the laser igniter, but there is no way to control the parameters of the main laser radiation that initiates the laser igniter.

A known laser initiation system called "Laser initiating device with fiber optic cable" (US patent No. 5714458, IPC F42C 19/00, publ. 06/22/1999), which describes a method for initiating a laser igniter, according to which the optical initiation pulse and control the parameters of the optical initiation pulse by a laser radiation recorder.

The initiation of a laser igniter occurs by transmitting an initiation pulse from the laser emitter through a fiber optic cable to the laser igniter. A separate fiber optic cable for the embedded control system complements the fiber laser transmission system. The optical unit contains GRIN lenses. The lenses are installed in series and provide collimation and scattering of a part of the laser radiation to the front surface of the fiber-optic cable of the laser radiation recorder. The optical unit also includes lenses with aspherical optics, which control the refraction of laser radiation reflected in the direction of the fiber-optic cable of the laser recorder.

In this method, it is possible to register the parameters of an optical initiating pulse from a laser emitter that uses a laser igniter. In this case, the control of the parameters of the optical initiating pulse from the laser emitter is indirect and only immediately after the laser emitter. Another disadvantage is the inability to control the state of the optical path using a control pulse from the laser emitter to the laser igniter, followed by registration using a laser radiation recorder.

Known laser initiation system called "Method and system of initiation of charges" (RF patent No. 2684259 IPC F42C 13/02 (2006.01) F42D 1/04 (2006.01), publ. 04.04.2019), which describes a method of initiating a laser igniter , according to which an optical initiation pulse is generated and supplied through an optical switch, which is switched by the control unit for the duration of the transfer of the initiation pulse from the initial state to the triggered one.

According to the invention, the initiation of the laser igniter is carried out as follows. The control unit includes a laser, from which optical radiation is fed through a fiber-optic cable to an optical switch containing a photoconverter and a trigger circuit that generates a signal for switching from the initial to the activated state of the optical switch for the time required for the optical radiation to pass, initiating the laser igniter.

Thus, the passage of optical radiation from the laser is provided with the required time, energy and spectral characteristics for the initiation of the laser igniter. However, there is no possibility of monitoring the state of the optical path using a control pulse from the laser emitter through the optical switch to each of the laser ignitors with subsequent registration using a laser radiation recorder.

The closest analogue chosen as a prototype is a four-channel laser initiation system using laser diodes (D. Rosner, E. Spomer "For channel laser firing unit using laser diodes" // Second NASA Aerospace Pyrotechnic Systems Workshop, Sandia national laboratories Albuquerque, 1994, p. 101-114), which describes a method for initiating the system, which consists in controlling the optical path of the system when the optical switch (OF) is closed by forming and supplying an initiating pulse to the path of the initiating device, transfer the OF to the open state , initiate an initiating device - form and supply an initiating impulse to the initiating device.

This laser initiation system offers two options for providing control of the initiator. In the first version, three optical cables are used: one for transmitting an optical pulse to the initiating device, the second for transmitting an optical pulse for monitoring the optical path, the third for registering an optical monitoring pulse, combined in an optical splitter having one optical cable at the output, connected to The initiating device also additionally uses a laser emitter, which forms an optical control pulse with a wavelength different from the wavelength of the initiating laser emitter.

In the second version, two optical cables are used: one for transmitting an optical pulse to the initiating device, the second for recording an optical control pulse, while the power of the optical initiation pulse is limited to the power of the control pulse by the aperture (hole diameter) of the optical switch filter.

However, in this system, it is impossible to apply an initiating pulse simultaneously to more than one initiating device, there is no complete control of the optical path when the optical fiber is closed, and there is also no control of the optical path when the optical fiber is open and there is no control of the initiation of the drug. All this reduces the security of the system.

The problem to be solved by the invention is to increase the safety of the laser initiation system.

The technical result obtained by using the proposed technical solution is to ensure control of the state of the optical path in each channel of the system.

The specified technical result is achieved by the fact that the optical path of the system is monitored when the optical switch is closed by forming and supplying an initiating pulse to the path of the initiating device, the optical switch is switched to the open state, the initiating device is initiated - an initiating pulse is formed and supplied to the initiating device, while the optical the path with a closed optical switch by forming and supplying first a control and then an initiating pulse, after switching the optical switch to an open state, the optical path is monitored by forming and supplying a control pulse to the path of the initiating device, after initiating the initiating device, its operation is checked with a control pulse, while the control and initiating pulses are formed with the same amplitude and different in duration for each laser emitter, the control / initiating pulse is fed one or simultaneously two to one or two initiating devices, respectively, through the optical feedthrough connector, the open / closed state of the optical switch is provided by moving the light filter of the optical switch to the open / closed state, respectively.

The totality of the listed features achieves high security of the multichannel system. This was achieved due to the following: when the optical switch (OF) is closed, the optical path is monitored first with a control and then with an initiating pulse, which makes it possible to control both the state of the optical switch (open / closed) and the parameters of the initiating pulse. Next, the state of the optical path is checked when the optical fiber is open by forming and supplying a control pulse, which also confirms the state (initial / non-initial) of the initiating device. Then initiate the initiating device and check its operation with a control pulse. In this case, the control and initiation pulses are formed with the same amplitude and different in duration for each laser emitter, the control / initiation pulse is fed one or two simultaneously to one or two initiating devices, respectively, through the optical pass-through connector, which is confirmed when the laser emitter issues only the control pulse, the operability of the laser emitter and the possibility of forming an initiating pulse by it, while the optical pass-through connector provides ease of operation and expansion of the objects of application of the laser system.

Thus, they provide monitoring of the state of the optical path in each channel of the system and solve the problem of increasing its safety.

When analyzing the state of the art, no analogues were found, characterized by features that are identical to all the essential features of this invention. And also the fact of the known influence of the features included in the formula on the technical result of the proposed technical solution was not revealed. Therefore, the claimed invention meets the conditions of "novelty" and "inventive step".

FIG. a block diagram of a multichannel laser initiation system for implementing the initiation method is presented.

A multichannel laser initiation system that implements the inventive method contains a control unit (CU) 1, laser emitters (LI) 2, an optical switch (OV) 3 with a light filter, an optical pass-through connector 4, initiating devices 5, recording elements 6. The outputs of the CU 1 are connected with each LI 2 and with OB 3, while the OB is located between the output of each LI and the corresponding input of the optical connector (OP) 7. Laser ignitors (LP) are used as initiating devices 5, and laser radiation recorders ( RLI). Each LV 5 is connected by an optical cable (OK) 8 with the corresponding input of RLI 6 through optical connectors 7. Optical loop-through connector 4 is connected by OK 8 through OP 7 with the input of each LV 5 and with the corresponding output of OP 7 of each LI 2. OV 3 and LI 2 form an optical unit (OB).

BU 1 is designed to control the state of the OB by an electrical signal - at the required time, BU 1, according to a given operation algorithm, provides the formation and transmission of control electrical (control (one or two at the same time) or initiating (one or two at the same time)) signals for the formation by each laser emitter 2 appropriate optical (control or initiating, one or two simultaneously) pulses, as well as the formation and transmission of control electrical signals for the transition of OB 3 from one stable state to another (open or closed). The open / closed state of the OB 3 is provided by moving the optical filter of the OB 3 to the open / closed state, respectively.

In the open state, the optical filter ОВ 3 ensures the transmission of an optical pulse from LI 2 with minimum optical losses, in the closed state - with maximum optical losses.

Each initiating device 5 at the input OP 7 has two optical cables. One is for receiving a control or initiating optical pulse from the output of the OP 7 of the corresponding laser emitter 2, the second is for transmission to the input of the radar image 6 reflected from the laser igniter 5 of the control or initiating optical pulses.

When the OB 3 is in the closed state without laser initiation of the LV 5, control of the radar image 6 of the control or initiation of optical pulses (one or two at the same time) is provided, when the OB 3 is in the open state - only the control optical pulse (one or two at the same time).

The method is carried out as follows.

In the initial state, OF 3 is in the closed position, providing the maximum optical loss for the transmission of the optical (initiating, control) pulse to the optical path from all LI 2 to all initiating devices 5 with a light filter, which is in the closed state.

When the OB is closed, the optical path of the system from LI 2 to LV 5 is controlled by forming BU 1 and feeding from LI 2 (from one or two LI 2 simultaneously), first a control pulse and then an initiating pulse into the path to LI 5 (one or two LI 5 simultaneously ) and registration (one or two at the same time) of the optical pulse of the radar image 6. Transfer the OB to the open state, after which the optical path is controlled by forming the BU 1 and feeding from the LI 2 (from one or two LI 2 at the same time) a control pulse to the path to the LI 5 (one or two LV 5 at the same time) and registration (one or two at the same time) of an optical pulse RLI 6. After checking one (two) path from LI 2 to LV 5 in accordance with the necessary (required) algorithm of operation, BU 1 forms and LI 2 delivers (one or two at the same time) an initiating impulse into the path to LV 5 (one or two LV 5 at the same time). After initiation of LV 5 (one or two LV 5 at the same time), the actuation of the LV 5 initiating device is checked with a control pulse - by forming BU 1 and feeding from LI 2 (from one or two LI 2 at the same time) a control pulse to the path to LV 5 (one or two LV 5 simultaneously) and registration (one or two at the same time) of an optical pulse RLI 6.

In this case, the control and initiating pulses are formed with the same amplitude and different in duration for each laser emitter and are fed through the optical pass-through connector 4.

In this case, the control optical pulse reflected from the laser igniter 5, converted into an electrical signal by the laser radiation recorder 6, provides control not only of the optical path from LI 2 to LV 5, but also the state (initial, triggered) of LV 5, which is the terminal device of the laser initiation system ...

Thus, the data presented indicate the fulfillment of the following set of conditions when using the method according to the claimed invention:

- the process embodying the claimed method in its implementation is intended for use in the field of rocket and space technology, the mining industry and employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations when creating systems for the initiation of explosives, providing increased safety under the influence of electromagnetic factors of various origins;

- for the proposed method in the form in which it is characterized in the claims, the possibility of its implementation is confirmed.

Therefore, the inventive method meets the condition of "industrial applicability".

Claims (1)

A method for initiating a multichannel laser initiation system, which consists in controlling the optical path of the system when the optical switch is closed by forming and supplying an initiating pulse to the path of the initiating device, transferring the optical switch to the open state, initiating an initiating device - forming and supplying an initiating pulse to the initiating device characterized in that the optical path is monitored when the optical switch is closed by forming and supplying first a control and then an initiating pulse, after switching the optical switch to the open state, the optical path is monitored by forming and supplying a control pulse to the path of the initiating device, after initiating the initiating device, it is checked its triggering by a control pulse, while the control and initiating pulses are formed with the same amplitude and different duration for each laser emitter, the control / the initiating pulse is applied one or simultaneously two to one or two initiating devices, respectively, through the optical feedthrough connector, the open / closed state of the optical switch is provided by moving the optical switch light filter to the open / closed state, respectively.

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